Beneficial microbes to suppress Vibrio and improve the culture performance of copepod Tigriopus japonicus Mori.

The use of beneficial microbes, i.e., probiotics, to reduce pathogens and promote the performance of the target species is an important management strategy in mariculture. This study aimed to investigate the potential of four microbes, Debaryomyces hansenii, Ruegeria mobilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Bacillus subtilis, to suppress Vibrio and increase survival, population growth and digestive enzyme activity (protease, lipase, and amylase) in the harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus japonicus. Copepod, T. japonicus stock culture with an initial mean density of 50 individual/mL (25 adult male and 25 adult female) was distributed into five treatments (i.e., four experimental and a control, each with four replicates; repeated twice) using 20 beakers (100 mL capacity each). The copepods were fed a mixture of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense and the diatom Phyaeodactylum tricornutum (3 × 104 cells/mL-1). Each microbe's concentration was adjusted at 108 CFU/mL-1 and applied to the culture condition. D. hansenii, L. plantarum, and B. subtilis all improved the copepods' survival and population growth, likely by including a higher lipase activity (P < 0.05). In contrast, using R. mobilis did not improve the copepod's culture performance compared to control. B. subtilis was the most effective in decreasing the copepod's external and internal Vibrio loading. The probiotic concentrations in the copepod decreased within days during starvation, suggesting that routine re-application of the probiotics would be needed to sustain the microbial populations and the benefits they provide. Our results demonstrated that D. hansenii and B. subtilis are promising probiotics for mass copepod culture as live food for mariculture purposes.

Bottom aquaculture can improve the basic trophic pathways and enhance the secondary production: Implications from benthic food web analysis.

To evaluate the impact of bottom aquaculture on benthic ecosystems, characteristics of benthic food web were studied using stable isotope techniques during four seasons in a Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) bottom aquaculture area in a semi-enclosed bay, China. Results showed that although nitrogen stable isotope values of food sources (particulate organic matter and phytoplankton) had significant seasonal differences, there were no significant seasonal changes for benthic food web structure. Manila clam bottom aquaculture can enhance the secondary productivity and improve the basic trophic pathways by providing bio-deposits. Besides particulate organic matter and phytoplankton, Manila clam could feed on self-generated feces with high nitrogen stable isotope values, and benthic micro- and macroalga with high carbon stable isotope values. Secondary productivity of the stations with a high degree of aquaculture was higher than that of stations with a low degree. Bivalve bottom culture may have a positive impact on benthic ecosystem functioning.

A new species of Helmutkunzia Wells amp; Rao, 1976 from an intertidal sandy beach in Xiamen, China and proposal of Pseudobalucopsylla gen. nov. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Miraciidae).

A new species of the genus Helmutkunzia Wells Rao, 1976 (Miraciidae) is described from specimens collected from an intertidal sandy beach in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. Helmutkunzia xiamenensis sp. nov. differs from its two congeners by the length/width ratio of the female P5 exopod, the number or length of the setae on the sexually dimorphic P2 endopod in the male and the relative length of the spines on the endopodal lobe of the male P5. The Chinese species is morphologically closest to H. variabilis Wells Rao, 1987 from the Andaman and Nicobar island chain. Females of both species can readily be differentiated by the relative length of the P5 exopod while males can be differentiated by the length of the armature elements on P2 enp-2 and the endopodal lobe of P5. The genus Balucopsylla Rao, 1972 is reviewed, resulting in the proposal of Pseudobalucopsylla gen. nov. to accommodate the type species Balucopsylla triarticulata Wells Rao, 1987 and three new Indo-Pacific species previously identified with it: P. obscura sp. nov. from the Andaman Islands, P. costaricensis sp. nov. from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and P. mielkei sp. nov. from the Galpagos archipelago. A key to species of Pseudobalucopsylla sp. nov. is provided.

Johnwellsia, a new intertidal genus of Parastenheliidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from the Taiwan Strait, China, including a review of the family and key to genera.

A new genus of Parastenheliidae, Johnwellsia gen. nov., is proposed for its type and only species, J. bipartita sp. nov., collected from Dadeji Beach in Xiamen, Taiwan Strait, China. The intricate taxonomic history of the family is reviewed with special emphasis on its type genus Parastenhelia Thompson Scott, 1903. It is concluded that P. hornelli Thompson Scott, 1903 is the type of the genus and that the widely adopted previous designation of Harpacticus spinosus Fischer, 1860 as type species of Parastenhelia is invalid. The taxonomic concept of Parastenhelia is restricted to the hornelli-group which includes four valid species: P. hornelli, P. similis Thompson Scott, 1903, P. oligochaeta Wells Rao, 1987, and P. willemvervoorti sp. nov. The currently accepted concept of Parastenhelia spinosa as a highly variable cosmopolitan species is rejected. The genus Microthalestris Sars, 1905 (type: Thalestris forficula Claus, 1863) is resurrected to accommodate most Parastenhelia species that were previously placed in the spinosa-group. Two species, Thalestris forficuloides Scott Scott, 1894 and Parastenhelia antarctica Scott, 1912, are reinstated as valid members of the genus which further includes Parastenhelia gracilis Brady, 1910, Microthalestris littoralis Sars, 1911, P. costata Pallares, 1982, P. minuta Pallares, 1982, P. bulbosa Gee, 2006 and five new species: M. campbelliensis sp. nov.; M. polaris sp. nov.; M. santacruzensis sp. nov.; M. sarsi sp. nov. and M. variabilis sp. nov. Both the type species, Thalestris forficula, and Harpacticus spinosus are considered species inquirendae in Microthalestris. Three new genera are proposed to accommodate the remaining Parastenhelia species. Porirualia gen. nov. contains P. megarostrum Wells, Hicks Coull, 1982 (type) and P. pyriformis Song, Kim Chang, 2003, and is the sistergroup of Johnwellsia gen. nov. Parastenhelia aydini Kuru Karaytu, 2015 is placed in the monotypic genus Karaytugia gen. nov. while all species with penicillate elements on the antenna and P1 are transferred to Penicillicaris gen. nov., including Thalestris pectinimana Car, 1884, which is removed from the synonyms of the Parastenhelia spinosa (Fischer, 1860) complex, and three new species: P. maldivensis sp. nov., P. penicillata sp. nov., and P. sewelli sp. nov. The genus Karllangia Noodt, 1964 (type: K. arenicola Noodt, 1964) is relegated to a junior subjective synonym of Thalestrella Monard, 1935a (type: T. ornatissima Monard, 1935a). New or updated diagnoses for each genus, and differential diagnoses for species where appropriate, are provided. A key to the ten currently recognized genera in the Parastenheliidae is presented as well as keys to species for Parastenhelia, Microthalestris, Thalestrella and Penicillicaris gen. nov.

Effects of reduced seawater pH on nematode community composition and diversity in sandy sediments.

The present study investigated the potential effects of seawater acidification on the taxonomic structure and diversity of nematode communities using a microcosm experiment. Nematode samples for the microcosm experiment were collected from the low tidal zone of two sandy beaches with different sediment compositions (medium sand vs. very fine sand) in Qingdao (China). In the microcosm, nematode communities were exposed to nine experimental treatments comprising two pH levels for 56 days: 8.0 (ambient control) and 7.3. Communities were exposed for 0, 7, 14, 28, or 56 days. Results showed that the most distinguishable differences in nematode community structure and diversity indices were caused by sediment type. Reduced pH changed the taxonomic structure of nematode communities in medium sand sediments. An increase in species with higher tolerance to lowered pH occurred as a response and resulted in increased diversity in medium sand sediments. Nematode communities in finer sediments appeared less sensitive to reduced pH.

The combined effects of elevated pCO2 and food availability on Tigriopus japonicus Mori larval development, reproduction, and superoxide dismutase activity.

Previous studies have shown that ocean acidification has little effect on adult Tigriopus japonicus copepods, and mainly impairs the early development and reproduction of females. This study investigated the possible interactive effect between CO2-induced seawater acidification and food availability on larval development and reproductive output in T. japonicus. Copepods were exposed to either pH8.1 or pH7.3 under different food concentrations (0.5×104-80.0×104cells/mL). Both the development of nauplii and copepodites was delayed at pH7.3 with a greater effect at lower food concentrations. The reproductive output followed a bell-shaped curve with the highest reproductive output at food concentrations between 30×104 and 40×104cells/mL. As an indicator of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase increased at lower pH, with a greater increase at lower food concentrations. Therefore, the effect of elevated pCO2 on T. japonicus was food dependent.

New Mesopsyllus species from the Bohai Sea, China, re-evaluation of the validity of Vibriopsyllus Kornev & Chertoprud, 2008 and proposal of Sympodella gen. n. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae).

Two new species of the genus Mesopsyllus Por, 1960 (Canthocamptidae) are described from the Bohai Sea, eastern China. Mesopsyllus dimorphussp. n. and M. spiniferussp. n. differ from their congeners by the presence of two instead of three outer spines on P2-P3 exp-3. They can be differentiated from each other by (1) number of inner setae on P3-P4 enp-2; (2) anterior margin of antennulary segment 7 of male; (3) ornamentation of male abdomen; (4) sexual dimorphism on P2 endopod and P3-P4 exp-3; and (5) differences in length of setae on male P5. Some observations in the original description of M. atargatis Por, 1960 are reinterpreted and the type material of M. secundus (Wells, 1965) is re-examined. Comparison between the type species of Vibriopsyllus Kornev & Chertoprud, 2008 and the four known species of Mesopsyllus shows the former as a junior subjective synonym of the latter. Consequently, Vibriopsyllus curviseta Kornev & Chertoprud, 2008 is formally transferred to Mesopsyllus as M. curvisetus (Kornev & Chertoprud, 2008), comb. n. A key to species and an updated generic diagnosis of Mesopsyllus are presented. The taxonomic status of the genus Carolinicola Huys & Thistle, 1989 is re-evaluated. The characters of its type species, C. trisetosa (Coull, 1973), indicate that the latter (and - by inference - the genus Carolinicola) should remain in the Danielsseniinae. Carolinicola galapagoensis Mielke, 1997 is fixed as the type species of a new genus Sympodellagen. n. and placed in the Hemimesochrinae (Canthocamptidae) as the putative sistertaxon of Pusillargillus Huys & Thistle, 1989. The relationships and potential synonymy of the genera Pyrocletodes Coull, 1973, Perucamptus Huys & Thistle, 1989 and Isthmiocaris George & Schminke, 2003 are briefly discussed.

Protein microarray analysis for detection of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies after eradication therapy: a clinical follow-up.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to observe the changes in the anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) serum antibodies to Hp virulence factors after eradication therapy and evaluate the potential application value of protein microarray in detecting Hp antibodies after eradication therapy. METHODOLOGY: A total of 107 Hp-positive patients with peptic ulcers (55) and chronic gastritis (52) were recruited. Serum antibodies to Hp urease (Ure), cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA), vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA), heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), and anti-RdxA nitroreductase were measured. Four weeks after treatment, a 13C-urea breath test (13C- UBT) was applied to assess the Hp eradication state and to analyze correlations between the Hp eradication rate and the five antibodies. Six months after the therapy, protein microarray analysis was used to study the changes in these five serum antibodies. RESULTS: The overall Hp eradication rate was 86.0%There was no significant difference in the rate among the groups that tested positive and negative for the remaining four virulence factors. CONCLUSION: The disease type and serum anti-CagA antibody levels affect the therapeutic outcome of Hp eradication therapy. Protein microarray detection of Hp-related antibodies did not have significant application value for the long-term follow-up of Hp infection after eradication therapy.

Upregulation of microRNA 181c expression in gastric cancer tissues and plasma.

OBJECTIVE: To test the microRNA-181c (miR-181c) expression in tissues and plasma of gastric cancer (GC) cases, analyze any correlations, and explore the possibility of miR-181c as a potential molecular marker for GC diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relative miR-181c expression levels in cancers and plasma from 30 GC patients was tested using reverse transcription?real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR and compared to that in samples from 30 gastric ulcer and 30 chronic gastritis patients. RESULTS: The miR-181c expression level in the GC tissues was significantly higher than that in the gastric ulcer and chronic gastritis tissues (P = 0.000), as was the miR-181c expression level in the GC plasma (P = 0.000). We determined that miR-181c expression in GC plasma was positively correlated to its expression in the GC tissues (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of miR-181c is upregulated in GC tissues and plasma, and the miR-181c expression level in GC plasma is positively correlated to that in the corresponding cancer tissues. Plasma miR-181c is possibly a new serological marker for GC diagnosis.

[Preventive effects of teprenone on gastric mucosal lesions induced by Helicobacter pylori in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the preventive effect of teprenone on gastric mucosal injury induced with Helicobacter pylori concentrated culture supernatant (CCS) in Balb/c mice. METHODS: Gastric mucosa lesions were induced with intragastrical administration of Helicobacter pylori CCS. Sixty Balb/c mice were divided into control group, injury group, sucralfate protective group and teprenone protective group. Mice of two protective groups were pretreated with sucralfate or teprenone respectively before induction of gastric mucosa lesions. Mucosal changes were assessed by microscopic examination, quantitative histology and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Histologic and ultrastructural lesions in protective groups were less severe than those in injury group. Epithelial damage scoring (EDS) of teprenone protective group (1.68 +/- 0.69) and sucralfate protective group (1.72 +/- 0.73) were significantly decreased than injury group (2.47 +/- 0.58, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Teprenone as well as sucralfate reduces gastric mucosal lesions induced by Helicobacter pylori CCS in mice.

Freeliving marine nematodes as a pollution indicator of the Bohai Sea.

A hierarchical diversity index--taxonomic distinctness index delta+, which was first defined by Warwick and Clark in 1998, was employed to evaluate the pollution status of the Bohai Sea with freeliving marine nematodes. The result showed that the Bohai Bay and other coastal sampling sites might be affected by oil and gas production and other anthropogenic influences. In other words, anthropogenic disturbance was affecting this component of the benthos in these locations. And most offshore sampling sites in the middle of the Bohai Sea were clear and unpolluted.